By Ben Morgan and FOX23.com News Staff
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has declared an emergency to repair several bridges in Rogers County as quickly as possible after they were damaged by an illegal over-height truck.
The organization is working with inspectors and contractors to assess the damage to six county bridges above the Interstate 44/Will Rogers Turnpike in Rogers and Mayes counties while the truck was traveling eastbound between Claremore and Vinita on Tuesday afternoon.
Work is expected to begin today and may take up to two weeks to complete. Repairs will include flame straightening and replacing sections of damaged beams.
Six bridges between State Highway 266 near Verdigris and east of State Highway 28 near Vinita were damaged, and three of the county road bridges have been closed until repairs can be made. The Will Rogers Turnpike remains open in each direction, but nightly lane closures will occur when repair work begins.
The bridges that were hit include:
- E. 530 Rd. – closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
- S. 4220 Rd. – closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
- N. 429 Rd. – open between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
- N. 4300 Rd. – closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
- N. 4310 Rd. – open
- W. 370 Rd. – open
